Theatre Terms Antigone Greek Tragedy Conventions.

Theatre Terms Theatre Terms AntigoneAntigone

Greek Tragedy Conventions Greek Tragedy Conventions

TragedyTragedy

A drama or literary work in which the main A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstancesunfavorable circumstances

AnagnorisisAnagnorisis

Greek meaning: RecognitionGreek meaning: Recognition Aristotle discuss it in the Aristotle discuss it in the PoeticsPoetics as an as an

essential part of the plot of a tragedy essential part of the plot of a tragedy Anagnorisis usually involves revelation of Anagnorisis usually involves revelation of

the true identity of persons previously the true identity of persons previously unknown, as when a father recognizes a unknown, as when a father recognizes a stranger as his son, or vice versa stranger as his son, or vice versa

Where have you seen anagnorisis used in Where have you seen anagnorisis used in modern films or books? modern films or books?

CatharsisCatharsis

A release of emotional tension, as A release of emotional tension, as after an overwhelming experience, after an overwhelming experience, that restores or refreshes the spiritthat restores or refreshes the spirit

Aristotle says it is the effect of tragic Aristotle says it is the effect of tragic drama on its audiencedrama on its audience

The moment after the main The moment after the main character makes a BIG decisioncharacter makes a BIG decision

building building building building Building Building BUILDING BUILDING Ahhhhhhhh Ahhhhhhhh

Deus ex Machina Deus ex Machina

A God or Gods are introduced into a play A God or Gods are introduced into a play to resolve the entanglements of the plot to resolve the entanglements of the plot

Found in Greek and Roman drama – You Found in Greek and Roman drama – You may remember this from Odyssey and may remember this from Odyssey and Oedipus!Oedipus!

Do you remember the 12 Olympians? Let’s Do you remember the 12 Olympians? Let’s review... review...

12 Olympians12 Olympians

Peripeteia Peripeteia

A sudden change of events or reversal of A sudden change of events or reversal of circumstances, especially in a literary circumstances, especially in a literary workwork

Stichomythia Stichomythia Dialogue in alternate lines, a form Dialogue in alternate lines, a form

sometimes used in Classical Greek drama sometimes used in Classical Greek drama in which two characters alternate speaking in which two characters alternate speaking single epigrammatic lines of verse single epigrammatic lines of verse

Often used as a means to show characters Often used as a means to show characters in vigorous contention or to heighten the in vigorous contention or to heighten the emotional intensity of a scene emotional intensity of a scene

Characters may take turns voicing Characters may take turns voicing antithetical positions, or they may take up antithetical positions, or they may take up one another's words, suggesting other one another's words, suggesting other meanings or punning upon them meanings or punning upon them

Dramatic Irony Dramatic Irony

A plot device in which the audience's A plot device in which the audience's or reader's knowledge of events or or reader's knowledge of events or individuals surpasses that of the individuals surpasses that of the characters characters

When YOU know something the When YOU know something the characters do NOT knowcharacters do NOT know

Typically occurs as a part of the Typically occurs as a part of the climax or turning point in the plot – climax or turning point in the plot – Helps cause that moment of Helps cause that moment of catharsis! catharsis!

PathosPathos Greek meaning: suffering or feeling Greek meaning: suffering or feeling

emotionsemotions When a writer uses pathos s/he is...When a writer uses pathos s/he is...

Appealing to the emotions of the audience in Appealing to the emotions of the audience in order to persuadeorder to persuade

Choosing language that will affects the Choosing language that will affects the audience's emotional responseaudience's emotional response

You use pathos too! If you don’t want to You use pathos too! If you don’t want to go to school how might you describe your go to school how might you describe your “sickness” to your parents? Is it a mere “sickness” to your parents? Is it a mere cough? A sniffle? cough? A sniffle?

Characteristics of a Tragic Characteristics of a Tragic HeroHero

Character must...Character must...1.1. be of noble/high staturebe of noble/high stature2.2. have a tragic flaw have a tragic flaw 3.3. face a downfall face a downfall 4.4. experience enlightenmentexperience enlightenment5.5. ultimately die or be pretty close to it! ultimately die or be pretty close to it!

Oedipus IS a tragic hero...How does he fit Oedipus IS a tragic hero...How does he fit these characteristics? these characteristics?

HamartiaHamartia Hamartia, from Greek word Hamartanein, Hamartia, from Greek word Hamartanein,

means “to err”means “to err” Inherent defect or shortcoming in the hero Inherent defect or shortcoming in the hero

of a tragedy, who is in other respects a of a tragedy, who is in other respects a superior being favored by fortune superior being favored by fortune

The great man falls through--though not The great man falls through--though not entirely because of--some weakness of entirely because of--some weakness of character, some moral blindness, or errorcharacter, some moral blindness, or error

Gods Gods alsoalso are in some sense responsible are in some sense responsible for the hero's fallfor the hero's fall

GODS + FATAL FLAW = Hamartia (The GODS + FATAL FLAW = Hamartia (The Gods see the flaw in the tragic hero and Gods see the flaw in the tragic hero and lead him on the way to his downfall!)lead him on the way to his downfall!)

HubrisHubrisA common fatal flawA common fatal flaw

TOO MUCH PRIDE; ARROGANCETOO MUCH PRIDE; ARROGANCE

audacityaudacity, , blusterbluster, , brass,brass,  conceitedness,conceitedness,  

contemptuousness,contemptuousness,  disdainfulness,disdainfulness,  egoego, egotism, , egotism, gallgall, ,

haughtiness, haughtiness, highhandedness,highhandedness, imperiousness,  imperiousness, 

insolenceinsolence, , loftiness,loftiness, ostentation,  ostentation, pompous,pompous,  

presumptionpresumption, , pretension, pretension, priggishness,priggishness, scornfulness, scornfulness, self-importanceself-importance, self-love, , self-love,

smugnesssmugness, , superciliousness,superciliousness,  swaggerswagger, , vanityvanity

The Greek ChorusThe Greek Chorus A group of actors/audience members that A group of actors/audience members that

interject into the plot of the playinterject into the plot of the play They speak in chorus and would usually They speak in chorus and would usually

have a drumbeat or musical interlude to have a drumbeat or musical interlude to accompany themaccompany them

The chorus is there to help the audience The chorus is there to help the audience consider different view points of the consider different view points of the characters. They also pray to the Gods. characters. They also pray to the Gods. (Remember this was a religious festival!)(Remember this was a religious festival!)

The chorus provides a review for the The chorus provides a review for the audience, offers prayers for the group, and audience, offers prayers for the group, and helps the reader consider the different helps the reader consider the different view points of the charactersview points of the characters

The Greek Amphitheater The Greek Amphitheater